COCKNEY RHYMING SLANG (MOST-COMMON WORDS)
I have noticed that quite a number of non-cockney people in the UK (who did not grow up hearing
rhyming slang spoken) use, and sometimes misuse, "short version" terms that they have heard on
television or in films – without realizing that these are actually rhyming slang, and without knowing
the "full version" from which these derive.
Often used without knowing the origin:
"Use your loaf" (loaf = head)
"That's a load of old cobblers" (cobblers = balls)
"There she goes, rabbiting on about it again" (rabbit = talk)
Often misused:
"Sorry, I haven't got a sausage" (sausage = cash)
– Grammatically it should be "Sorry, I haven't got any sausage"
"I've known him for donkey's years" – a corruption of "I've known him for donkey's ears" (= years)
– People who use the corrupted version think it refers to a large number of years
|
Short version |
Full version |
Translation |
|
Acker Bilk |
Milk |
|
|
Airs and Graces |
Faces |
|
| Alans | Alan Whickers | Knickers |
| Almonds | Almond Rocks | Socks |
|
Apple Tart |
Fart |
|
|
Apples |
Apples and Pears |
Stairs |
|
Artful Dodger |
Lodger |
|
| Joanna | Aunt Joanna | Piano |
|
Bacons |
Bacon and Eggs |
Legs |
| Baked Bean | Queen | |
| Baker's Dozen | Cousin | |
|
Band of Hope |
Soap |
|
|
Barclays |
Barclays Bank |
Wank |
|
Barnaby Rudge |
Judge |
|
|
Barnet Fair |
Hair |
|
|
Bees |
Bees and Honey |
Money |
|
Betty Grable |
Table |
|
|
Big Dippers |
Slippers |
|
|
Bird |
Bird Lime |
Time |
|
Bird’s Nest |
Chest |
|
|
Biscuits and Cheese |
Knees |
|
| Boat Race | Face | |
|
Bo Peep |
Sleep |
|
|
Brahms and Lizst |
Pissed ( = drunk) |
|
|
Brass Tacks |
Facts |
|
| Bread | Bread and Honey | Money |
| Bricks and Mortar | Daughter | |
|
Bristols |
Bristol Cities |
Titties |
|
Bull and Cow |
Row |
|
|
Burton |
Burton on Trent |
Rent |
|
Butchers |
Butcher’s Hook |
Look |
|
Cat and Mouse |
House |
|
|
China |
China Plate |
Mate |
|
Cobblers |
Cobbler’s Awls |
Balls |
|
Currant |
Currant Bun |
Son |
|
Daisies |
Daisy Roots |
Boots |
|
Dickory Dock |
Clock |
|
|
Dicky Bird |
Word |
|
|
Dicky Dirt |
Shirt |
|
|
Ding Dong |
Song |
|
|
Dog and Bone |
Phone |
|
|
Dolly Mixtures |
Pictures |
|
|
Donkey’s Ears |
Years |
|
|
Dustbin Lids |
Kids |
|
|
Eiffel |
Eiffel Tower |
Shower |
|
Father Ted |
Dead |
|
|
Frog |
Frog and Toad |
Road |
|
Germans |
German Bands |
Hands |
|
Ginger Beer |
Queer |
|
| Gregory Peck | Cheque | |
|
Hampsteads |
Hampstead Heath |
Teeth |
|
Holy Ghost |
Toast |
|
|
Horace Batchelor |
Spatula |
|
|
Jam Jar |
Car |
|
| J Arthur | J Arthur Rank | Wank |
|
Khyber |
Khyber Pass |
Arse |
|
Loaf |
Loaf of Bread |
Head |
|
Love and Kisses |
Mrs |
|
|
Lucy Locket |
|
|
|
Mars Bar |
Scar |
|
|
Merchant Banker |
Wanker |
|
|
Minces |
Mince Pies |
Eyes |
|
Mother Hubbard |
Cupboard |
|
|
North and South |
Mouth |
|
|
Oxo |
Oxo Cube |
Tube ( = London Underground) |
| Pen and Ink | Stink | |
|
Plates |
Plates of Meat |
Feet |
|
Porkies |
Pork Pies |
Lies |
|
Rabbit |
Rabbit and Pork |
Talk |
|
Rosie |
Rosie Lee |
Tea |
|
Round the Houses |
Trousers |
|
|
Rub-a |
Rub-A-Dub-Dub |
Pub |
|
Rum and Coke |
Joke |
|
|
Sausage |
Sausage and Mash |
Cash |
|
Sausage Roll |
Dole |
|
|
Shawshank Redemption |
Pension |
|
| Sky Rocket | ||
|
Sweeney |
Sweeney Todd |
Flying Squad |
|
Taters |
Taters in the Mould |
Cold |
|
Tea Leaf |
Thief |
|
|
Tiddly Wink |
Drink |
|
|
Tilbury Docks |
Socks |
|
|
Titfer |
Tit for Tat |
Hat |
| Tom and Dick | Sick | |
|
Trouble and Strife |
Wife |
|
|
Wallace and Grommit |
Vomit |
|
|
Weasel |
Weasel and Stoat |
Coat |
| Whistle | Whistle and Flute | Suit |